ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando City Council on Monday approved new panhandling rules.
One of the biggest changes: Those asking for money will no longer have to stay within blue boxes throughout the city.
The new rules follow a U.S. Supreme Court decision that said the city could no longer legally enforce the law keeping panhandlers in the blue boxes.
The new rules also will allow panhandling at night or in groups of more than two people.
But the rules will forbid asking people for money in the roadway, which includes cars stopped at red lights. The proposed restriction has some panhandlers upset.
Read: Teacher turns to panhandling to raise money for classroom supplies
“How are you supposed to get the money then?" panhandler Timothy Stevens said. "They're going to throw it out the window?”
Stevens said some days are better than others.
"Sometimes you get good people (who) help you out, and sometimes you get people (who) don't," he said. "It's hit (or) miss."
The ordinance also forbids people from soliciting at ATMs.
Earlier this month, Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer said these changes are all about keeping the citizens of Orlando safer.
"So our concerns are aggressive panhandling, one, and then safety as well," Dyer said.
The rules forbid panhandlers from asking people multiple times for money when the person says no.
Orlando City Commissioner Regina Hill said she wants the ordinance to be a jumping off point to talk to panhandlers about resources available to them.
"We want the ordinance to bring attention to those that might be panhandling and just not know the law," Hill said to Channel 9's Cuthbert Langley.
City Council members unanimously passed the new rules on their first reading. Now that it's passed Monday, the rules go into effect immediately.
Orlando police Chief John Mina said he'll plan a grace period of sorts to educate panhandlers about the new ordinance, but said he's confident his officers will be able to enforce the ordinance.
"Once we feel like we've reached the people we need to reach, we'll start enforcing it," Mina said.
Orange County public defender Robert Wesley told Eyewitness News that he doesn't expect the ordinance to bring more arrests.
It costs about $68.00 a day to keep someone in the Orange County Jail. Wesley said he hopes the ordinance leads to a better understanding between those asking for help and the community.
"It should be able to be handled just by good sense and people having respect for other people," Wesley said.
Cox Media Group
